Maryland field hockey to host Virginia in first round of NCAA Tournament

It’s official. Maryland field hockey will be hosting the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 12 in College Park.

Maryland’s home field, The Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex, has not been a favorable place for visitors to get a victory this season, as the Terps are 7-3 when playing in College Park.

Earlier this season, the Terps defeated then-No. 12 Virginia on the road, 2-1, in overtime.

Virginia registered a 12-8 record during the regular season, finishing 3-3 in ACC play. The Cavaliers most recently fell to the defending national champion North Carolina in the ACC Championship by a score of 1-0.

The Terps finished the season with a 13-6 record, scorching the competition with a four-game winning streak in October to close out the regular season. Maryland outscored its opponents by a lopsided margin of 15-3. Maryland earned an average 4-4 record within the Big Ten conference.

Maryland is a team lauded for its strength in numbers and ability to send multiple athletes at opponents to cause havoc on both ends of the field. The Terps have 12 players who have scored at least two goals this season, led by senior midfielder Bibi Donraadt who led the team with 11 goals on the season.

They are an experienced team with eight seniors on the squad but have some very talented underclassmen to bolster their attack.

With eyes set on the upcoming NCAA Tournament, Maryland ranks ninth in the country averaging 2.92 goals per game and eighth in assists per game with 2.68.

Head coach Missy Meharg’s club dropped its first game in the Big Ten tournament to Penn State on Nov. 4 in a back and forth contest in which it fell by a score of 3-2.

With the whole crew returning this season, Maryland will make its return to the NCAA Tournament after missing the tournament last season for only the second time under Meharg’s watch.

The Terps have beaten their fair share of talented programs this season, though, earning eight victories over top-25 opponents in 2021. For most of the entire season, the Terps have ranked within the top-10 of the NFHCA rankings.

Maryland will look to shrug off its upset loss in the Big Ten tournament, starting with a matchup against Virginia at home on Friday.